A new survey conducted in the state of Michigan has some startling results that show just how prevalent distracted driving might be throughout the country as a whole.
In anticipation of this month’s Distracted Driving Awareness campaign, Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning conducted a survey of 600 people, and their results might surprise you. Although 80% of persons surveyed said that they consider cellphone drivers to be at a greater crash risk, 56% of people said they themselves talk on a phone while behind the wheel.
Results for texting are a little more reasonable, if still not comforting. 8% said that they are guilty of texting while driving, and 96% said that such an action could contribute to an increased risk of an accident.
A number of factors could contribute to the results. Some people may simply think that the ability to stay online and stay connected to friends and family is more important than being safe and having attention focused fully on the road. Plus, it could be a case where people think that they are the ones that have a handle on their driving, and that it’s all the other people who can’t drive properly.
As a San Francisco car accident lawyer, I worry that this type of thinking could lead to a number of accidents. We’re likely all guilty of figuring that an accident could never happen to us, but believe me when I say that we’re all at risk. As a San Francisco personal injury attorney, let me advise you to do everything you can to remain safe.